The Visayan Hornbill is considered a threatened species because its numbers are significantly declining due to hunting and lowland deforestation. Many leading wildlife organizations all around the world consider the Visayan Hornbill a threatened species, mainly because of this reason. The Visayan Hornbill is also called the Penelopides Panini. This bird is endemic in the Philippines. It makes a high pitch sound. Through this sound, it can easily be recognized. They live in the forest and they nest in tall trees. Fruits are the main food of the Visayan Hornbill. Because of the lowland deforestation, these birds are being pushed uphill.
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The Male Visayan Hornbill is bigger compared to the female. Their neck, head and breast are creamy-white in color. The male Visayan Hornbill also has a buff tail.
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The Female Visayan Hornbill on the other hand, has black under parts. The rest of its parts are typically the same with the male Visayan Hornbill.
Visayan Hornbill used to be found in different places in the Philippines. However, due to the lowland deforestations and hunting, lately, it can only be found in the Panay islands, Philippines. These days, it can only be found in the Central Panay Mountain National Park. Based on its estimated decline rate, there is only 1000 individual Visayan Hornbill left in the country; this is according to the BirdLife International Organization. There has been much wildlife organization that has been protecting the natural habitat left for these birds. With this, the decline in numbers of the Visayan Hornbill is not rapid anymore.
Threats
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Deforestation is considered to be one of the main reasons why these birds are considered to be threatened species. There are only small amount of forest left in places such as Masbate, Guimaras, Ticao, Pan de Azucar and Sicigon. There is only 4% forest left in Negros and 8% left in Panay. Fortunately there have been preventive measures and preservation measures being done in these areas.
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Hunting is another major threat for the Visayan Hornbill. There has been many hunting and trapping being done on these birds. Hunters can get 3-6 birds for every 2-5 days in some of the Islands in the Philippines, especially Negros. These birds can be sold for as low as $1 only.
Conservation
There has been a lot of conservation measure being done by some of the leading wildlife organizations in the world in some of the islands in the Philippines where the Visayan Hornbill live. The Negros Conservation Project is an example of this conservational measure. The joint force of the Coral Cay Conservation and the Negros Forest & Ecological Foundation created this. Another conservation measures being done by these organizations are the Central Panay Mountains National Park. There are captive stocks in these places to protect confiscated Visayan Hornbill Birds. These confiscated birds will be bred in captivity. There are records of successful breeding in the wild for the stock Visayan Birds that are released.
